Social media is considered to be the ultimate outlet for all things personal, from publicizing deep thoughts and life updates to posting photos and videos captured over the weekend. And while many are aware of the ramifications that these posts can have in the professional realm, many do not consider the ramifications that they can have in one’s personal life. Did you know that social media can play a central role in divorce proceedings? Social media provides a wealth of electronic data that could potentially be used against you in a divorce court setting. Read to learn about how social media might affect you in a divorce.
Photos
Photos posted on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram immediately become public domain and give insight as to whom you have been spending your time with and how you have been spending your weekends. A spouse could use photos to gather evidence of substance abuse, an extramarital affair, financial irresponsibility, breaching court orders, and more. They might even be used by a spouse in an undermining manner to support allegations that the other spouse is unfit to be a parent.
Updates and Comments
Status updates and comments posted on sites like Facebook and Twitter can speak a great deal about a person. In a divorce court setting, they could reveal day-to-day activities, flirtatious extramarital activity, information that contradicts testimony shared in court, or publicized court proceedings that should not have been disclosed. Moreover, hateful statements about a soon-to-be former spouse could have an impact on your future relationship with your children.
Arguing on Social Media
Remember: what is posted on social media is public, so if you would not want something published on the front page of a newspaper, chances are you shouldn’t post it on social media, either. Arguing with a former spouse on Facebook or Twitter will create a public record that could eventually have an impact on the outcome of your divorce proceedings.
What Your Friends and Family Members Post
Keep in mind that this does not apply only to you and your social media posts. In fact, even removing yourself from social media altogether does not necessarily protect you from social media playing a role in your divorce proceedings. Photos added by friends, or posted comments that reference conversations held in private settings, all could be used as evidence relating to your personal life.